India star all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy on Sunday was ruled out of teh remainder of the Test series between India and engalnd. According to a report, Reddy sustained a knee injury during a gym session on Sunday, and scans confirmed ligament damage.
The 22-year-old injury news has come as a major blow to India’s hopes of winning a Test series in England after eighteen years. With Rishabh Pant, Arshdeep Singh, and Akash Deep on the injury list, the team is already struggling with fitness issues. Pant’s availability as a wicketkeeper is still up in the air, as both Akash Deep and Arshdeep have been ruled out of the Manchester Test beginning July 23.
Shardul Thakur is likely to play in Manchester Test
In the absence of Reddy, Mumbai’s all-rounder Shardul Thakur is set to be a part of India’s playing XI in Manchester Test. Shardul, who has taken 33 wickets in 12 Test matches so far, was picked before Nitish in last month’s series opener at Headingley in Leeds, but he did not accomplish much with the bat and ball.
Nitish scored 43 runs (30 and 13) and grabbed three wickets (2 and 1) at Lord’s Test. Nitish scored two runs (1 and 1) in the second Test of the ongoing Anderson-Trophy Trophy, but he was still included in India’s playing XI for the third Test.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Tests stats soo far
On November 22, 2024, Nitish made his Test debut for India in a match against Australia in Perth, and he made an immediate impression with his batting. In the red-ball match at Optus Stadium, he scored 41 runs in the first innings and stayed undefeated with 38 in the second. He also took one wicket in the second innings of his first Test match for India, clean bowling Mitchell Marsh.
In the opening innings of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India, which took place at Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30, Reddy smashed his first Test century for India. However, India lost by 184 runs, and his 114-run knock was in vain.
Reddy has played a total of seven Tests for India, scoring 343 runs in 13 innings while also claiming eight wickets. In seven overs, his best bowling stats in Test matches are 2 for 32.